Chilrdren's Book Week

What better way to get back to the basics of what this blog is about than with the kick-off of Children's Book Week! Head over see whats happening this week. You can even download bookmarks, posters, crosswords, and puzzles. Be sure to check in on Wednesday for the Children's Choice Book Awards and see what books kids voted their top choice.

Happy Mother's Day!

Bestselling author Kelly Corrigan has a very cool Mom!!!

Wednesday Links

If you haven't seen it yet, you have to checkout Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. She posted a wonderful interview with this year's 2009 Caldecott Honor Medal winner Melissa Sweet! It's chock full of sweet advice, sweet pictures, sweet links, and even a sweet give-away!

Be sure to check out Melissa's blog too. You can see how she celebrated her win.

The Picture-Bookies Are Back!

After a brief hiatus the The Picture-Bookies Showcase is back! Visit the Grand Reopening of an Online Showcase of Professional Children's Book Illustrators.

Sponsored by the Picture Bookies Group, illustrators of children's books and products are back to display their work for your enjoyment.

Wednesday Links

Upsetting news from Oxford.
The Alphabet's being axed!
Check it out in today's article at the National Post.












Getty Images

Thanks Verla Kay's Message Board for the link.

Wednesday Links

Cybil 2008 Fiction Picture Book Finalists
I'm a little late here, but in case you haven't checked out the the Children's & Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards, the finalist were posted last week. There are some awesome titles in the running. And they're in great company with last year's winner and finalists. To see the 2008 finalist in all categories go here.


Quentin Blake-Ten minutes of Illustration
Got an extra ten minutes? Be sure to check out this video of British Illustrator Quentin Blake as he tours you through his studio and demonstrates the method he has used to illustrate over 300 books! I love his system for archiving all of his original artwork. Simply amazing to see. You can also check out a slide show of his workspace and tools.

Giving with Just a Click!

A Call-to-Action: Post a Comment to Help Share the Magic of BEDTIME STORIES!

Here are some great ways you can give to some great causes with just a click. That's right! Just a little of your time, and a click of a mouse and you're on your way to giving. Check out this great idea from the good people at First Book. Now through December 25, post a comment about your favorite bedtime story or memory on the First Book blog Bookmark and , in your honor, Disney will donate one new book to a child in need-just for commenting! It's free, takes just a minute!

Plus, if you make a donation through the First Book website, Random House Children's Books will match your donation book-for-book through December 31st!


Another way to help others can be found at the Breast Cancer Site. They are having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute and with just a click you can help fund free mammograms for women in need. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation . Help them out and pass it on!